As preparations for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) continue, Armenia is intensifying efforts to ensure that national stakeholders are fully informed, engaged, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to the process.
Within the framework of “Support to the UNCT Armenia in the lead-up to COP17 project” a capacity-building workshop entitled “Armenia’s Biodiversity Strategies and Key Documents” was held in Dilijan. The initiative is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus), in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.
The national workshop in Dilijan, Tavush region of Northern Armenia, aimed to strengthen the knowledge base of national stakeholders and to promote their active and informed participation in COP17-related processes.
A multidisciplinary group of experts representing UNEP & REC Caucasus presented key international and national biodiversity documents, highlighted priority challenges, and explored pathways for addressing them. The event also served as a platform for collecting stakeholder inputs and proposals on preparations to COP17 in Yerevan, which will be conveyed to the relevant authorities as part of Armenia’s ongoing COP17 preparations.
Armenia’s emerging COP17 priorities were presented by Karen Khachatryan, Expert at the Strategic Policy Department of the Ministry of Environment. He identified inclusiveness as the first priority, emphasizing the full and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, youth, and other stakeholder groups, as well as the importance of stronger engagement of regional communities in COP17 process and biodiversity action at large.
The second priority focuses on synergy among the Rio Conventions, reflecting the growing convergence of biodiversity with climate change, health, and pollution agendas.“These linkages are already embedded in the COP17 agenda,” Mr. Khachatryan noted, “and decisions will be taken on these interconnected challenges.”
Opening the workshop, Nune Harutyunyan, Executive Director of REC Caucasus, emphasized the importance of broad societal engagement in the lead-up to COP17.
“Such events are critically important for government institutions, scientists, and civil society alike,” she noted. “Preparing for COP17 cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires the active involvement of the entire society.”
Ms. Harutyunyan presented an overview of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, outlining its role as the global framework guiding biodiversity policy and action. She highlighted Parties’ obligations to monitor ecosystem conditions, assess risks, and report regularly on progress - processes that enable timely responses to emerging challenges and ensure harmonized data at the global level. The presentation covered the Convention’s governance architecture, its protocols, and key strategic instruments, including the 30×30 Initiative, which seeks to protect 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, restore 30 percent of degraded ecosystems, halt species extinction trends, and significantly scale up biodiversity financing.
The discussion also addressed the Convention’s relevance to sustainable agriculture, forestry, energy, traditional knowledge, and community rights. Ms. Harutyunyan noted that at least 50 percent of resources from the Cali Fund will be allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, recognizing their role as custodians of biodiversity. She further highlighted decisions taken at COP16, including the mobilization of contributions from companies that commercially use data derived from genetic resources, with funds directed toward implementation of Convention objectives.
Reflecting on COP16 outcomes, Ms. Harutyunyan underscored the importance of translating global decisions into national priorities.“Armenia must build its COP17 strategy on the outcomes of COP16,” she emphasized, citing accelerated implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, operationalization of biodiversity finance mechanisms, the launch of a global biodiversity stocktake, and stronger integration of biodiversity into food systems and green economy pathways.
She also highlighted COP17 as a strategic opportunity for Armenia. “COP17 is a platform for forging partnerships and gaining allies. Most importantly, it allows Armenia to clearly articulate its priorities, and define clear objectives.”
The third priority is to ensure that COP17 negotiations remain implementation-focused, advancing transparent, science-based, and solution-oriented approaches to accelerate delivery of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
In addition to international frameworks, workshop featured in-depth discussions on Armenia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan presented by Alla Aleksanyan, UNEP International Biodiversity Specialist as well as Nagoya and Cartagena Protocols, and the impact and obligations under these legally binding documents for Armenia presented by Tatiana Danielyan, Biodiversity Expert, REC Caucasus. The exchanges continued on 12 December, reinforcing dialogue and shared understanding among participants.
Participants came up with different ideas on preparation and stakeholder engagement into COP17, such as coordination arrangements for COP17 preparation and related biodiversity governance processes should be strengthened and formalised, there should be direct connection between the civil society efforts and Ministry of Environment in planning and preparation process, like for example digital platforms for cooperation, notification on registration process for COP17, other important issues. The workshop participants have discussed opportunities for engagement of communities of Armenia in hosting some of the activities or COP events, presenting the nature and communities to the visitors of COP17.
Through such inclusive and knowledge-driven initiatives, Armenia is laying the groundwork for a successful COP17 process that is nationally grounded, globally relevant, and oriented toward tangible outcomes for biodiversity and sustainable development.
The material was prepared within the framework of the “Support to the Armenia in the Lead-up to COP17” project, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus), in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.
January 27, 2026 at 21:38